North Korea denied US allegations it was selling arms to Russia for use in Ukraine, amid worries Pyongyang could be moving closer to Moscow as it faces criticism from Washington over its weapons tests. “We once again make clear that we have never had ‘arms dealings’ with Russia and that we have no plan to do so in the future,†...
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UK to delay Northern Ireland vote, hopes for EU deal first
The UK will legislate to extend the deadline for holding an election in Northern Ireland, people familiar with the matter said, to allow time to strike a deal on the region’s Brexit status with the European Union. The plan will be announced in Parliament on Wednesday, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The current expectation is that ...
Read More »US midterm: Biden says House ‘tougher’ to keep than Senate
President Joe Biden acknowledged Democrats face a “tougher†challenge holding the House than the US Senate on the eve of Tuesday’s midterm elections. “I think it’s going to be tough but I think we can. I think we’ll win the Senate. I think the House is tougher,†Biden told reporters Monday at the White House, after he was asked if ...
Read More »US and Russia discussed containing war, WSJ says
President Joe Biden’s national security adviser and senior Kremlin aides have held private talks in recent months to reduce the risk of a broader conflict over Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported. A peace settlement wasn’t a goal of the discussions, according to the report. Sullivan alluded to US-Russian contacts after Russian leaders suggested that nuclear weapons might be an ...
Read More »UK minister holds Taiwan trade talks in defiance of China
UK Trade Minister Greg Hands is holding talks with Taiwanese officials to “future-proof†Britain’s economy in the coming decades, as Rishi Sunak’s administration looks to take a harder stance on China. The in-person trip to Taipei, aimed at boosting economic ties between the countries, comes as the UK takes an increasingly protectionist approach to Chinese investment. Prime Minister Sunak has ...
Read More »South Korea’s Yoon apologises over deaths
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued an apology to the nation over a deadly pre-Halloween crowd crush, with members of his government facing criticism over management of the incident that killed at least 156 people. “I am sorry and apologetic to the bereaved families, who are facing tragedy that cannot be expressed in words, and to the people who ...
Read More »Imran Khan to resume early elections push after being shot
Pakistan’s former premier Imran Khan will call on his supporters to resume a march to Islamabad and continue pushing for early elections after being released from a hospital for treatment of a leg wound sustained in a shooting at a public rally. Khan will address his supporters virtually on Wednesday, and their march will restart from the spot where he ...
Read More »Anwar Ibrahim confident of simple majority in Malaysia polls
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said his Pakatan Harapan’s alliance is confident of securing a simple majority even in the face of a multi-cornered fight in this month’s general election. “I have been on the ground, and yes it is a tight race,†Anwar, 75, told Bloomberg Television’s Haslinda Amin in an interview Monday. “But we can move further into ...
Read More »Crowded Malaysian election field adds risk of no clear majority
Malaysia’s general election will witness more than 210 multi-cornered contests for parliamentary seats, raising the possibility that fresh alliances would be needed to form a new government. More than 940 candidates will vie for 222 seats in the Nov. 19 vote, with only nine one-to-one contests, according to data from the Election Commission. Several constituencies will see five-cornered fights, with ...
Read More »Bolsonaro took Brazil up to the brink, then stepped back
When Brazil’s electoral court announced Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s election win on Sunday evening, the defeated President Jair Bolsonaro stayed home and said nothing. Ministers who tried to visit him found the gates to the official residence in Brasilia shut. At around 10 p.m. the lights were turned off. He didn’t concede the following day either, and amid the ...
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